Ordinary Bajans Launch Citizens’ Inquest Into Barbados Apartment Collapse – Start To Gather Data, Evidence, Facts, Rumours
“Most Bajans don’t trust their government to honestly, impartially and competently investigate the death of the Codrington family, and they don’t trust the mainstream Barbados media to hold the government accountable.”
Barbados Citizens Not Waiting For “Official” Answers – Not Trusting “Official” Answers, Sources And Information Either
From the moment the tragedy became known, the Government of Barbados should have been taking all steps to gather facts and protect evidence for later analysis – but most ordinary Bajans have doubts about the agendas, integrity and competence of the current elected and appointed government officials. In short, most Bajans don’t trust their government to honestly, impartially and competently investigate the death of the Codrington family, and they don’t trust the mainstream Barbados media to hold the government accountable.
BU wish to commend Barbados Free Press (BFP) for the pressure role it has undertaken to play in the interest of promoting a more transparent and accountable Barbados society. It is a role which will generate many admirers but equally so the detractors are sure to slither from the wood work.
In support of the BFP story today, BU wish to highlight some concerns raised by that someone at a Supermarket in Christ Church this morning.
We read in the Nation newspaper dated 1 September 2007 that there was a meeting held at the St. Cyprian’s School which sought to address parents’ concerns with the school term scheduled to start on the 10 September 2007. For those readers who are unfamiliar, St. Cyprian’s and St. Paul’s Primary are located in fairly close proximity to the big hole in the ground. According to our supermarket friend emotions were high, demands were made and most disgustingly, the government operatives were at work.
Emotions High
Parents who attended the St. Cyprian’s School meeting, mainly women got very emotional at the two and one half hour meeting. It was a meeting where parents from different political sides came together as ONE. The consensus (approximately 70%) which was communicated by a show of hands confirmed that parents are willing to move their children to another location; however, the minority parents in the vote remained concerned about the new location. According to our supermarket friend, the headmaster of the school finds himself in a very difficult position; if the Board of St. Cyprian’s elects to stay 70% of parents will remove their children from the school. If they chose to leave without the blessing of the Ministry of Education, they will no doubt expose themselves to losing their annual subvention. Many parents walked out during the meeting and for whatever reason, the Nation did not report the reason. Continue to read if you want to know.
Demands
Some parents demanded for school fees to be refunded to satisfy those who want to move their children from the school immediately. Parents also demanded that more information be released to the public as it becomes available. This demand became more relevant when parents found out that the school will close a gate to the back of the premises out of caution because of a crack extended from the “Hot Spot” towards the school.
Government Operatives at Work
We mentioned earlier that some parents walked out of the meeting. This was triggered when an arrogant Deputy General Manager of the National Housing Corporation and a Director of St. Cyprian’s School made what were thought to be condescending statements. His general responses were thought to be too pro-government and disinterested at a time when politics was of little concern to parents at the meeting.
The geologist at the meeting gave the parents a jolt when he said that he would not send his child to any of the two schools in the “Hot Spot” area. This is a matter which the government of Barbados should not politicize, and like BFP, we are asking Barbadians who have information of any kind which can help to sensitize all concern to make it available.
Related Stories
Leave a Reply to Wishing in VainCancel reply